May 30, 2003

Haber selected as new director of MGH Cancer Center

After an extensive search, Daniel Haber, MD, PhD, has been selected as the new director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, succeeding Kurt Isselbacher, MD, who held the position since 1986.

Haber (left), who is internationally recognized for his research in the genetics of cancer, served as associate chief for Research in the MGH Hematology Oncology Unit. He will continue to serve as chair of the Cancer Genetics Program for the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, and as director of the MGH Center for Cancer Risk Analysis.

He earned his medical degree in 1983 at Stanford University and subsequently completed his internship and residency at the MGH, followed by a clinical fellowship in medical oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He came back to the MGH in 1991 when he established his research lab to study the genetics of Wilms tumors — a type of kidney cancer — and breast cancer.

During his career, Haber has received numerous awards and serves on the
editorial boards for the publications Cell and Cancer Cell. He also serves as the genetics editor for the New England Journal of Medicine. Recently, Haber was awarded a Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Investigator Award and was elected to the American Association of Physicians.

In early April, two other leadership positions for the Cancer Center were determined by Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH. Dan Ginsburg, president and chief operating officer of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, was named vice president for the Cancer Center, and Jean Elrick, MD, senior vice president for Administration, was given administrative responsibility for the Department of Radiation Oncology.